Laboratory services in health centres within Amhara region, north Ethiopia

Objective: To identify current problems in laboratory services and elicit s uggestions from the technicians aimed at improving the services in health c entres within Amhara region, north Ethiopia, Design: Cross-sectional study using a pre-tested questionnaire. Settings: Twenty seven health centres in Amhara region, north Ethiopia, Par ticipants: Twenty seven laboratory technicians. Results: Physical facilities were seriosly lacking, consisting of only one room in 85.2% of the health centres, Supply of electricity was never contin uous. Whereas virtually all the health centres had up to five medical docto rs each, laboratory manpower was grossly below the ideal requirement. Over half of the health centres had only one technician each, resulting into hea vy workload. Laboratory reagents were insufficient, equipment lacking, and maintenance and repair were not accorded adequate attention. Eighty differe nt tests were offered by the health centres in various combinations. Twenty categories of suggestions were advanced by the respondents. Conclusion: There is a great shortage of manpower, equipment, chemicals and other supplies to provide adequate laboratory services in the health centr es within the region. Consequently, the laboratories are functioning below capacity.